Socket retainers



Jan. 21, 1964 c, v, REsARE 3,118,696

SOCKET RETAINERS Filed Dec. 28, 1960 INVENTOR.

" ce illdfiild Patented Jan. 21, 1954 Filed Dec. 28, 126i), Ser. No.79,948 4 Claims. (Cl. Z87ll9) This invention relates generally toseparable connections between driving and driven elements such, forexample, as the customary polygonal socket connections of rotary tools.More particularly, the invention relates to socket retainers forretaining a socket element separably on the end portion of a drivingsocket retaining member.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedreleasable socket retaining means especially for use together withrotary impact tools and having a long cperable life.

Another object of the invention is to provide a socket retaining meansembodying simple constructional features and incorporating a minimum orparts together with an efiicient intererrangement of these parts forkeeping them assembled and in working order under the most severeconditions including fatigue and repeated shock from impact.

A further object of the invention is to provide a retaining means of theforegoing character which is rapidly and easil" exchangeable.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a socket retaimngmeans which is efiiciently protected and enclosed against dirt andexcess grease.

The above and still funther objects of the invention will become obviousfrom the following description and from the accompanying drawing inwhich two embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way ofexample. It should be understood that these embodiments are onlyillustrative and various modifications of the invention may be madewithin the scope of the claims without departing from the scope of theinvention.

In the drawing in which similar reference characters refer to similarparts,

FIG. 1 is a longitudi al fragmentary section (through a spindle endembodying the features of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the latching dctent ofPEG. 1 turned through an angle of 180,

FlG. 3 is a cross section through the spindle end taken along the line3-3 of FIG. 2,

PEG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing schematically theassembly of the spring clip of FIG. 1,

5 shows enlarged perspective and top views of the spring clip of FIG. 1,and

HS. 6 shows enlarged perspective and top views or" a '"ed type of springclip.

Relerring to the drawings there is shown a rotatable idle 3.53 which,for example, may be the anvil of a power driven impact tool (not shown).On the spindle there is formed a polygonal end portion ll, for example asquare end, which is adapted to receive the usual type of socket 12 asshown in chain-dotted lines in PEG. 1. The square ll of the spindle itis provided with a transverse hole opening into opposed side surfaces ofsaid square. Adjacent one end of the hole 13 there is a constrictionforming an inner shoulder 1 i. A detent i5 is movably arranged iri'thehole 13 and consists of a central cylindrical part 16 having a reducedcylindrical end 17 and an opposite reduced end with a trusts-conical orrounded tip 13. The dialed-lid may be inserted in the hole 13 withalternatively the end 37 or the tip 13 facing the shoulder 14, and whenthe central cylindrical part 16 of the detent 15 is rought against theshoulder 14 the reduced cylindrical part 17 or the frusto-conical tip 13will protrude through constriction. The protruding end of the detent 15cooperates with a hole 22 in the socket 12 in ouder to retain the socket12. The rounded or frusto-conical tip 18 is used for making possiblerapid attachment and detachment of the socket 12 from the square 11 withthe help of the camming action of the tip surface against the edge ofthe hole 22 in the socket 12. The cylindrical end 17 is used whenfrequent changes of the socket are unnecessary or a more positive lockfor the socket is desired requiring for release a full depression of thedetent 15.

in the hole 13 there are arranged transverse circular abutments l9 and29 which may be formed for example by the oppositely disposed parts of alongitudinal hole 21 intersecting the hole 13.

A generally U-shaped spring clip 23, FIG. 5, having a flat base 24 andlaterally projecting bends or hooks 25 on the free ends of its shanks 31i is inserted in the hole 13 and engages with said hooks 2.5 thetransverse cylindrical abutments l9 and 2 adecent the hole 13 by whichengagement with the spring clip is kept against displacement in the hole13. The configuration of the base 24 is identical with thecross-sectional shape of the hole 13.

interposed between and seated against the base 24 of the spring clip 23and the detent 15' there is a helical spring 26 which urges the detent15 against the shoulder 14 to project its end 17 or 18 outwardly. Thespring 26 is slightly conical, converging in the direction of the detent15'.

In assembling the socket retaining parts the detent 15 is first insertedinto the hole 13 with the reduced end 17 or 18 protruding through theconstriction. Thereafiter the spring 2-5 is placed in the spring clip 23with its wider end against the base or spring seat 24. After axialcompression of the spring 26 in the direct-ion of the spring seat 24,the shanks of the spring clip 23 are compressed towards each other inthe direction of the arrows 2?, as depicted in FIG. 4. This keeps thespring in place and compressed inside of the shanks 3d of the springclip 23. The compression in the direct-ion of the arrows 29 may beperformed manually or with the help of some suitable instrument, forexample by means of pincers. With the spring 26 compressed, the taper ofthe spring 26 is great enough to allow compression of the shanks to anextent permitting the insertion of the hooks 25 of the spring clip 23into [the mouth of the hole 13. Thereafter the shanks of the spring clip23 are released and the clip is pushed deeper into the hole 13 in thedirection of the arrow 28 with the hooks 2S gliding along the walls ofthe hole 13 until they, by reason of the resiliency of the shanks 363 ofthe clip, are latched outwardly and engage the respective cylindricalabutments l9 and 2d. The outward latching movement of the shanksreleases the spring 26 to contact the detent l5 and to constantly urgesaid detent against the shoulder 34. The operation of the detent to actas a separable connection betree the square end 11 and the socket i2 iswell known in the art and evident from the foregoing description.

Owing to the base 24 of the spring clip 23 ac'dng as a closure for thehole 13 and with a plastic sealing plug 27 frictionally inserted in thelongitudinal bore 21, the hollow parts of the square ll together withthe spring 26 are efficiently protected against dirt and excess grease.

As an alternative the longitudinal bore 211. may be omitted and replacedby a circumferential groove formed in the walls of the hole 13 aboutmidway between the ends of said hole and forming the necessary abutmentsfor the hooks of the spring clip.

The spring clip 23 may be bent or die-drawn from a sheet metal strip, ormade from sheet metal by drawing in a suitable die a circular fiat blankto cup shape incorporating a flattened circumferential rim, cutting outtwo or more shanks from the wall of the cup, hardening and annealing thecut cup in order to get the desired springiuess. The multiple shankalternative is suited for use together with the circumferential groovementioned above.

In PH 6 there is shown a modified spring clip, which is especiallysuited for easy dismantling of the retainer. The clip 3-2 is similar tothe clip 23 in FIG. 5 but has a base Ze in the form of a strip withparallel edges and bends or hooks 25 with rounded or cam-shaped corners.In use a washer 31, which tightly fits into the hole 13, may beinterposed between the base 24 and the conical spring 25 in order toinsure tightness against the walls of the hole 13. When dismantling theretainer the clip 32 is seized for example with the help of pincerswhich can readily grip the side edges of the base 24 whereupon the clip32 is turned through 90. During this turning motion the hooks 25 arecainmed out of engagement with the circular abutments 15?, 2t? and arebrought into engagement with the Walls of the hole 13, whereupon theclip 32 may be removed axially from the hole 13. After removal of theclip the detent 15 may be shifted to protrtude with its other endthrough the constriction adjacent the shoulder 14, whereupon the clip 2is re-inserted together with the spring 2d.

The embodiments of the invention above described and illustrated in thedrawing should only be considered as examples and the invention may bemodified in several different ways w thin the scope of the followingclaims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the character described for retaining a socketelement on the spindle of a power driven impact tool or the like andhaving an end portion for receiving said socket element with atransverse hole disposed centrally therein, the combination whichcomprises a longitudinal passage disposed centrally in said end portionand intersecting said hole at substantially right angles, shouldersdisposed in said hole at one end thereof, a solid detent slidable insaid hole having a wide central portion for engaging said shoulders andwith an end thereof pro- 'truding from said hole when said centralportion engages said shoulders, resilient means disposed in said holeand against said detent on the side thereof away from said shoulders,holding means disposed in said holeagainst said resilient means on theside thereof away from said detent for urging said resilient meanstoward said detent and being deformable for insertion into said holewhereby said holding means engages abutrnents formed by saidlongitudinal passage for holding said resilient means againstdisplacement, said resilient means and said holding means being disposedsubstantially entirely on the opposite side of the axis of saidlongitudinal passage from said "etent.

2. In apparatus of the character describedtfor retaining a socketelement on the spindle or" a power driven impact tool or the like andhaving an end portion for receiving said socket element with atransverse hole disposed centrally therein, the combination whichcomprises a longitudinal passage disposed centrally in said end portic-nintersecting said hole at substantially right angles, shoulders disposedin said hole at one end thereof, a

solid dctent slidable in said hole and disposed to protrude from saidhole, a tapered spring disposed in said hole and against the oppositeend of said detent, retaining 4 means disposed in said hole around saidspring on the side thereof away from said detent for urging said springagainst said detent, said retaining means being deformable for insertioninto said hole whereby the said retaining means engages abutments formedby said longitudinal passa e for holding said spring againstdisplacement, and

spring and retaining means being disposed substantimly entirely on theopposite side or" longitudinal passage from said detent.

3. In apparatus of the character described for retaining a socketelement on the spindle of a power driven impact tool or the like andhaving an end portion for receiving said socket element with atransverse hole disposed cent-rally therein the combination whichcomprises 'a longitudinal passa e disposed centrally in said end portionand intersecting said hole at substantially right angles, thecombination which comprises shoulders disposed in said hole at one endthereof, a solid detent slidable in said hole and having a wide centralportion for engaging said shoulders with an end thereof protruding fromsaid hole when said central portion engages said shoulders, resilientmeans disposed in said hole and against said dete-nt on the end thereofaway from said shoulders, a holder disposed in said hole against said"esilient means on the side hereof away from said detent, said holderhaving a base forming a seat for said resilient means for holding saidresilient means against displacement and being dete i able for insertioninto said hole whereby the said holder engages abutments formed by saidiongitudinal passage for holding said resilient means againstdisplacement, and said resilient ieans and said holder being disposedsubstantially entirely on the opposite side of said longitudinal passagefrom said detent.

4. in apparatus of the chanacter described for retaining a socketelement on the sp dle of a power driven impact tool or the like and haanend portion for receiving said socket element with a transverse holedisposed centrally therein, the combination which comprises alongitudinal passage disposed centrally therein and intersecting saidtransverse hole at substantially right angles, shoulders disposed insaid holes at one end thereof, a solid de-tent slidable in said hole andhaving means for engaging said shoulders with an end of said detentprotruding from said hole, a tapered spring disposed in said hole andagainst said 'detent on the opposite end thereof, a holder disposed insaid hole against said spring on the side thereof away from said:detent, said holder having a base forming a seat for said spring andresilient legs Jith hooks thereon extending from said seat, said legsbeing deformable for insertion of said holder into said hole whereby thesaid hooks thereon engage abutments formed by said central longitudinalpassage for holding said spring against displacement, and said springand holder being disposed substantially entirely on the o site side ofsaid longitudinal passage from said detent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR RETAINING A SOCKETELEMENT ON THE SPINDLE OF A POWER DRIVEN IMPACT TOOL OR THE LIKE ANDHAVING AN END PORTION FOR RECEIVING SAID SOCKET ELEMENT WITH ATRANSVERSE HOLE DISPOSED CENTRALLY THEREIN, THE COMBINATION WHICHCOMPRISES A LONGITUDINAL PASSAGE DISPOSED CENTRALLY IN SAID END PORTIONAND INTERSECTING SAID HOLE AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLES, SHOULDERSDISPOSED IN SAID HOLE AT ONE END THEREOF, A SOLID DETENT SLIDABLE INSAID HOLE HAVING A WIDE CENTRAL PORTION FOR ENGAGING SAID SHOULDERS ANDWITH AN END THEREOF PROTRUDING FROM SAID HOLE WHEN SAID CENTRAL PORTIONENGAGES SAID SHOULDERS, RESILIENT MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID HOLE ANDAGAINST SAID DETENT ON THE SIDE THEREOF AWAY FROM SAID SHOULDERS,HOLDING MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID HOLE AGAINST SAID RESILIENT MEANS ON THESIDE THEREOF AWAY FROM SAID DETENT FOR URGING SAID RESILIENT MEANSTOWARD SAID DETENT AND BEING DEFORMABLE FOR INSERTION INTO SAID HOLEWHEREBY SAID HOLDING MEANS ENGAGES ABUTMENTS FORMED BY SAID LONGITUDINALPASSAGE FOR HOLDING SAID RESILIENT MEANS AGAINST DISPLACEMENT, SAIDRESILIENT MEANS AND SAID HOLDING MEANS BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLYENTIRELY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE AXIS OF SAID LONGITUDINAL PASSAGEFROM SAID DETENT.